Keeping a cool tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
If the ambient air temp remains higher than your tanks required max temp no fan or open lid will make the tanks temp lower then the ambient air temp. They will be the same, and the tank will hold the heat for a time after the ambient air temp drops.

A cheap DIY chiller?
I wonder if running an air pump with a bunch of hose coiled up in a cooler of ice attached to a large air stone/bubble wand would help?
The hose between the cooler and tank would need to be insulated for best results.
Fish need extra oxygen as temps soar and maybe it will lower the temp too.
 
KAWAMIKIE;4116690; said:
If the ambient air temp remains higher than your tanks required max temp no fan or open lid will make the tanks temp lower then the ambient air temp. They will be the same, and the tank will hold the heat for a time after the ambient air temp drops.

A cheap DIY chiller?
I wonder if running an air pump with a bunch of hose coiled up in a cooler of ice attached to a large air stone/bubble wand would help?
The hose between the cooler and tank would need to be insulated for best results.
Fish need extra oxygen as temps soar and maybe it will lower the temp too.
Click to expand...

Thats only true if there is no air movement over the surface of the water or the moister content in the air is so high there is no more room for anymore water molecules.
However, consider evaporative cooling. The air moving over the surface will move the heated molecules at the water surface out of the way making room for more as they come up.(heat rises)The differential at the surface of the water now allows more room for the rapidly moving water molecules to move to. As the differential is increased at the surface(air velocity), the energy(btu) being stored in the water gradually decreases, causing a cooling(btu loss)
Think how a swamp cooler works. You can actually speed the cooling by circulating the water more, bringing the warmer water to the surface faster to increase evaporation, or increasing the velocity of the air moving over the surface. The air will "carry" the warm evaporated water molecules away, leaving behind less excited(cooler) water molecules.
Ambient heat is not the same as direct heat. Evaporative cooling isnt as effective with direct heat...so be sure to turn your heater off...obviously..
My 2¢.
 
Run the a/c when it gets above 85?!. Hell I run my a/c when it gets about 75. You must really like hot weather..........
 
boldtogether;4117162; said:
Thats only true if there is no air movement over the surface of the water or the moister content in the air is so high there is no more room for anymore water molecules.
However, consider evaporative cooling. The air moving over the surface will move the heated molecules at the water surface out of the way making room for more as they come up.(heat rises)The differential at the surface of the water now allows more room for the rapidly moving water molecules to move to. As the differential is increased at the surface(air velocity), the energy(btu) being stored in the water gradually decreases, causing a cooling(btu loss)
Think how a swamp cooler works. You can actually speed the cooling by circulating the water more, bringing the warmer water to the surface faster to increase evaporation, or increasing the velocity of the air moving over the surface. The air will "carry" the warm evaporated water molecules away, leaving behind less excited(cooler) water molecules.
Ambient heat is not the same as direct heat. Evaporative cooling isnt as effective with direct heat...so be sure to turn your heater off...obviously..
My 2¢.
Click to expand...

He probably never heard of a swamp cooler, New Jersey has a similar humidity to mine. You couldn't cool a tank with evaporation here. My humidity today is close to 85%.

I would just suggest a window air conditioner. Simpler and you could benefit from it.
 
leather;4118510; said:
He probably never heard of a swamp cooler, New Jersey has a similar humidity to mine. You couldn't cool a tank with evaporation here. My humidity today is close to 85%.

I would just suggest a window air conditioner. Simpler and you could benefit from it.
Click to expand...

85% is brutal. I believe the OP is in Arizona where its dry...
Nope, Yonkers, my mistake...
^^air conditioner.^^^
 
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